sybrew
Facebook Square Stories Share proportion
Facebook allows you to use a square og:image, and it will change the orientation of your image on Facebook. From here:
https://makeawebsitehub.com/facebook-image-sizes/
Some sites are intentionally now using square (460x460 or 200x200) images for og:image instead of the 1.91:1 images, to create this second orientation.
Observe the two following examples of the two image sizes:
IMAGE 1, observe how the image is neatly to the left of the post (square, the og:image is 200x200 intentionally by the designer): https://i.imgur.com/nkN6art.png
(from https://code.tutsplus.com/articles/the-ultimate-guide-to-implementing-facebook-comments-on-your-blog--wp-23855 )
IMAGE 2, observe how the image is on top of the post description (the 1200x630 or 1200x628 depending on who you talk to - image resolution that TSF crops it to): https://i.imgur.com/U081h1K.png
(from https://wp-types.com/2017/11/toolset-reference-sites-upgrade-makes-it-easy-to-build-advanced-projects-for-your-clients/ )
My suggestion is to incorporate the ability to crop a Square social image (one could intentionally crop one themselves anyway, of course) for folks who like to have it be well defined for that. Perhaps at 460x460 or 630x630 or 628x628 or something?
Twitter Cards also accept 1:1 ratio (actually up to 2:1 as well).
Again, this can all be done manually, but I am reaching out to suggest that this might be a useful thing for folks who are sharing posts that aren't necessarily graphic-intensive or could just use a smaller thumbnail.
Many of my clients are just using some stock photos to have something to share - because they don't need photos for the type of content they are sharing (perhaps legal advice, for example).
A smaller square photo may be just as effective for them, since the nice presentation (as in IMAGE 2) is not necessary for their purposes.
Anyway - love this PlugIn.
I hope that I am contributing - this is not meant to be critical. This is the best SEO plugin by a mile, and your development is always fantastic.
Thanks for doing what you do.
The ability to create square images would be a great addition!
I'm unsure if we can easily and conveniently incorporate it; but, we have the code ready as I had to make it for the 3.0 structured data logo implementation.
In any case, AFAICR you can hold SHIFT and then click on the cropping corner to make a square crop in the meantime.
Hey @useyourblinker, just wanted to add reddit also prefers square images, although now it is no longer cropping to square as it used to. It seems that wide images are currently preferred by majority of social outlets rather than the other way around. Reminds me of adaptation of 16:9 monitors from 4:3 and 5:4.
@LeBaux
[...] although now it is no longer cropping to square as it used to.
Do you mean that the web service, Reddit, is no longer cropping images to square for its previews?
Currently, it seems, that if you provide square image, your post will get more real-estate. If you provide other dimensions, such as 16:9, your image will not be cropped, but it will occupy less vertical space. Therefore, arguably, square social images might be preferred in some cases.